Ironing table



Dec. 22, 1953 OLANDER 2,663,102

IRONING TABLE Filed June 9. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .FIE' l Kan/c4 8. 0444/05 Dec. 22, 1953 K. a. OLANDER 2,663,102

IRONING TABLE Filed June 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 KIM/0:1. B. 0 44 251? Dec. 22, 1953 K, B, OLANDE'R 2,663,102

IRONING TABLE Filed June 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE E 5o Kama. B. OM/VDER Dc. 22, 1953 QLANDER 2,663,102

IRONING TABLE Filed June 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 K 41054 B. 04 awps Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g r 2,663,102 it InoNING TABLE Kemuel B. Olander, Minneapolis, Minn.-

Application June 9, 1950, Serial No. 167,199. I 1

16 Claims. (Cl. 38 -423) particularly'to the supporting structure for the Manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and users of ironing tables are becomingv increasingly aware of the desirability of tables which may be comfortably used from'the normal seated position of the operator. Obviously if a table is to be effectively worked on from such a position the table understructure must be such as to allow room for the operators legs under thev table top or board. Providing such leg clearance without sacrificing rigidity and simplicity in the understructure has presented a substantial problem to the industry. .Previous efforts to meet theproblem have generally resulted either in the use of vertical legs supported by various braces or the like, which do not give the desired rigidity and are difiicult to collapse, or in which does not in fact give suificient leg clearance to allow the table top to be pulled up close to the midsection of the operator in a convenient working position. e

It has long been recognized in the art that the most rigid and most easily collapsible understructure is obtained through the use of diagonal legs. I have designed a construction utilizing the diagonal leg support in such an arrangement as to provide sufficient leg clearance under the table top to allow the top to be supported over the lap of the operator. I have also provided an improved means for adjusting the working elevation of the table top whereby it may be easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate persons of any height and whether in sitting or standing positions.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a supporting structure for an ironing board which firmly and rigidly supports the board in a convenient working position and which is so arranged as to allow operator leg space under the central portion of the board whereby the operator might sit closely against one side of the board with his or her legs extending thereunder.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ironing table with an improved supporting structure which is adjustable to regulate the. eleva-. tion of the table top to adapt it to the height or working position of the operator.

Still another object of my invention is to pro vide an ironing table adapted for use by an operator in a seated position, said table having a diagonal leg structure arranged to provide a rigid support for the ironing board and which may be easily collapsed against the underside of the board for storage of the table. 7

- Still another object is to provide a collapsible ironing table with at least one transverse fioor contact member that is substantiallylonger than the width of the board so as to impart transan understructure verse rigidity thereto, but which floor contact member is easily detachable to allow packaging of the collapsed table in a carton only slightly wider than the top or board portion of the table.

Still another object of my invention is to providean ironing table adapted to be used from a seated position which is so designed as to have a minimum weight, a relatively low manufacturing cost, and which presents an attractive and pleasin'g appearance.

A further object is to provide an elevation adjusting mechanism which will cause the table to automatically adjust itself to two or three most commonly used working levels, but which can also be easily and quickly adjusted to other and intermediate levels when so desired.

With these and other objects in view my invention broadly embodies an ironing board and a collapsible leg structure for the board with said leg structure comprising a pair of longitudinally crossing leg members pivoted to each other and extending downwardly under the board at places laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of the table, one of said members being pivoted on a slidable transverse axis to the underside of the table whereby the table may be adjusted to different heights, and means for looking the table at any selected height.

, These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification reference being made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred and modified embodiments of my invention and in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of the preferred form of my invention showing an operator seated in working position at the table. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of my improved ironing table with the novel board supporting means in collapsed position against the bottom of the board.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the lower portion of the rear table leg showing a slightly modified form thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of my improved ironing table showing the table adjusted to different heights by means of full lines and dotted lines.

Fig. '7 is-an enlarged bottom plan view of the table height adjustment means.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig; 2 but shows a modified form of the invention with the removed foot the line 9-9 of Reference will now be made more particularly to the various figures of the drawings and by reference characters, like parts being designated by like characters in the particular figures wherein such parts are shown. The number l6 designates the table top or ironing board of conventional flat elongated shape with a laterally. tapering front portion. Inasmuch; as the invention here concerned deals primarily with the supporting means for the. board, the term board is used in its broad sense to indicate the flat element pres senting the ironing surface regardless of whether said board is made of wood, sheet metal, expanded metal or other material.

The supporting structure for the board It comprises front and rear leg members I7 and 18, respectively, each pivotally secured to the underside of the board. These leg members are formed preferably of tubular metal and are so configured and attached to the board as to avoid passing through the area below the longitudinally central portion of the board so as to provide leg room for a sitting operator as shown in Fig. l.

Describing the leg members and their association with each other and the board It in greater detail, and considering first the front leg ll, it will be observed, in Figs. 1 and 2, that this leg has a generally U-shaped configuration with upper and lower parallel and portions 59 and respectively, and a straight connecting main portion 2|. A bracket 22 is mounted crosswise. on the underside and near the rear end of th board l6 and carries loops 23 which journal the leg portion iii in a transverse position for swinging movement of the leg I! on a transverse pivot axis. Small screws 24 threaded into the portion I 9 prevent lateral movement of the leg in the bracket. lNith the upper end of leg I! so attached to the board, the main leg portion 23l thereof extends forwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane substantially coincident with the outer lateral edge of the board H5. The lower floor engaging end portion 26 of the leg I1 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced sleeves 25 of rubber or other non skid. material forming spaced points of floor contact.

A. preferred form of the rear leg member is also shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This leg has substantially an S-shape with the upper end portion 2'5 thereof pivotally secured in a transverse position across the underside of the board by being journaled in the bracket 21. This bracket is formed similarly to the bracket 22 having loop bearing straps 28 which hold the portion 26 against the bracket (Fig. 5). However, the member 2! is not mounted in a fixed position on the board but is adjustable to various positions along a board mounted plate 29 the construction of which will be later described. It is sufiicient at this point to state that the bracket 21 carrying the upper end of the rear leg I8 can be moved to and locked at any selected one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions on the underside of the board.

It may here be noted that the straps 28 are provided with integral end lugs 28a that are turned into slots in flanges of the bracket 21 to thereby eliminate the necessity of using screws or rivets; and the brackets 21 are provide-d with a pair of spaced embossments 2711, one under each strap 28, which bear against the leg extension so that the entire length of the extension will not, bear and scrape against the length of the bracket 27'.

The upper portion 30 of the leg it} extends downwardly and rearwardly along a plane adjacent to and parallel with the vertical plane in which the leg portion 2! lies. Leg i8 is disposed inside of the leg ll with the portions 38 and 2| spaced. slightly apart and pivoted to each other on a transverse pivot axis as by the nut carrying bolt 3i. This pivot connection will be presently more fully explained.

Thelower section of the legit is formed .as shown angling diagonally crosswise under the board as at 32, then downwardly and terminating in an nd portion 33, which, is parallel ,to, and substantially the same length as, the upper end portion. 26. To give the leg it a broad engagement with they floor I have provided a tubular base 34 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the leg portion 33 and having a length substantially greater than the breadth of the table top. This member 34 has an elongated top opening 35 for insertion of the portion 33 into the member to be there secured as by a bolt and wing nut 36 or other suitable means. The base member 34 is provided with spaced anti-skid sleeves 31 similar to but diametrically larger than members 25.

A slightly modified construction of the rear leg is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the lower leg portion is gracefully rounded as at 38 with the end thereof welded at 39 within the base ld- Base 6:; is similar to the member 34 but may have a shorter top opening.

It is found desirable to reinforce the leg mem-- bers at their pivot connection 3! due to the weight and stress which this connection must withstand. Referring then to Fig. 3, it may be observed that I have welded channel members ii along. each of the legs at their crossing point with the outside surfaces of the channel bottoms parallel and opposing each other, as shown, with sufficient space therebetween for a washer Q2. Pivot bolt 3i then passes transversely through both legs and their respective channel reinforcements ii. This construction strengthens the legs at the pivot connection, where they are otherwise wea en d 3.17; the bolt holes, and insures their pivotal movement in parallel planes.

As thus far described shown one particu lar advantage of my invention will be readily apparent. With the leg members ii and iii both being laterally offset to ne side of the vertical, median longitudinal plane of the table as they extend downwardly under the board, they allow sufficient operator leg area under the board to enable the operator to sit up close to the table, as shown in Fig. l. with the board supported over his or her lap. The construction allows the operator to sit at the middle of with. the entire working surface thereof within close reach. It is believed that such configuration of ironing table legs to allow the operator position shown is entirely new to the art.

Obviously this particular supporting means may be of non collapsible construction and yet possess the above mentioned. advantage. However, it is generally desirable to provide for folding the leg structure against the underside of the board for storage of the table, and for shipping. Another widely appreciated feature in catch snaps into locked position over the latch 53.

In Figs. in through 12 I have shown. two additional modified forms of my invention. With he packaging problem primarily in mind, I have shown in Fig. it a construction which may be packed in a somewhat shorter carton than the prefered form. This is accomplished by providing a shorter rear leg member, here designated at Gil, which when collapsed lies within the end margin of the board itself. This shortage is made up by providing an arched foot or base BI having a top opening 62 for receiving the end portion of the leg, the base being detachable in the same manner as the straight base 34 of the preferred to n. The member iii isprovided at its ends with crutch tips 53 for frictional engagement with floor. In Fig. 11 I have shown a top View of the base detached from the leg 59. In. packaging the table for shipment the base EE is detached and laid in the position shown in dotted lines in l9. lhe table may then be packed in the carton C, the outline of which is shown in dotted lines which is only slightly longer than the board itself.

As shown in 12, the rear leg may be formed so as to eliminate the necessity of a separate base member. In this construction the rear leg, here designated by the numeral has an upper leg construction identical to that of the previously described forms, and the lower leg portion is formed as shown. in a large t with the end por-- tion thereof having spaced friction. sleeves 65 for engagement with the floor. A brace all is used to rigidly retain the spread between the leg portions.

As previously mentioned these modifications are only in the lower leg structure of the rear leg member The upper leg structure is identical in each form of the invention.

I thus provided a new and improved ironing table which, in the various forms disclosed, economically and ell" iently carries out the aforementioned objectives. It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended cl ns. Having now therefore fully illustrated described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1.311 an. ironing table having an elongated ironing board, a supporting structure for the board comprising a front leg member and a rear leg memb r respectively secured at longitudinally spaced points to the underside of the board and extending angularly downwardly to cross each ther at a point above their longitudinal centers whereby the lower ends of the leg members will be spread. fu t er: apart than their upper ends, members sisting of single bars pivoted togeth r at their intersection and with their intersection lyin adjacent to the vertical longitudinal plane of one lateral edge of the board, and the lower ends of the leg members having rigid transverse extensions underlying the table to support the table against lateral tilting.

2. An ironing table which comprises an ironing board disposed. on a 11 rizontal plane, front leg havi g an upper end portion mounted transversely across the underside of the board and near the rear end thereof, a straight central portion which extends downwardly and forwardly under the board along a plane substantially parallel to but laterally offset from the median vertical longitudinal plane of the table, and a base portion formed to lie on a plane parallel to the plane of the board and under the forward portion. of the board, and a rear leg having its upper end portion mounted transversely across the underside of the board on the forward portion thereof, then extending downwardly and rearwardly to pass closely by and connect with said central portion of the front leg, then angling diagonally crosswise of the board, and terminating in an end portion adapted to rest on the floor lying below the rear portion of the board.

3. In an ironing table, an ironing board, a pair of crossed leg members supporting opposite ends of the board and extending downwardly an diagonally in opposite directions therefrom, transversely disposed foot portions at the lower ends of the leg members and extending transversely with respect to the table to give the table lateral support, one of said leg members having the upper portion of downwardly extending length disposed substantially in the vertical plane of one lateral edge of the board a laterally offset lower portion of said length extending to a point where it will intersect the vertical plane of the opposite edge of the board.

4. An ironing table comprising an. elongated ironing board and a pair of leg members for supporting the board on a horizontal plane over a table supporting surface, each of said leg members having its upper end secured to the board, each of said members having a base formed to intersect the central longitudinal vertical. of the board and to engage the supporting face on both sides of said plane, and each of members having a rigi intermediate IJ-QlL-lufl forming the sole means of connection between the upper end and base of the leg, said intermediate portions arranged in crossing relation to each other, said portions crossing on and the upper length of each. lying substantially on one and the same side of said plane, and at least one of said members having the intermediate portion thereof below the crossing point passing crosswise under the board to meet its base at a point on the opposite side of said plane from its upper length.

5-. In an ironing table, an elongated ironing board, and pair of leg members crossing longi tudinally under the board for supporting the board in. an elevated horizontal position, each leg member having an. extension for securing it transversely to the board and a base for crosswise engagement with a table supporting surface, all of said extensions and bases intersecting median. vertical longitudinal plane of the coal and at least one of said leg members anmng crosswise under the board to connect with its extension and base on opposite sides of said vertical plane.

6. In an ironing table, an elongated board a supporting structure for the board comprising a front leg member having its upper end portion mounted crosswise on the underside of the board near the rear end thereof, a base portion onding parallel to said upper portion along a line be low the forward portion. of the board and straight intermediate portion lying substantial in the vertical longitudinal plane of one lateral edge of the board and extending between and forming the sole connecting means between the upper portion and the base portion of said front leg, and a rear leg member having an upper end portion mounted crosswise on the underside of the board and forward of the longitudinal center thereof, a base portion lying parallel to said upper surportion along a line below the rear end portion of the board and a rigid intermediate portion forming the sole means of connection between said upper portion and base portion, said last mentioned intermediate portion formed to pass closely by said plane, then crossing laterally under the board to pass adjacent to thelike plane being movable to allow spreading of saidleg upper ends for folding of the legs about their pivot against the underside of the board, the'pivotal connection between the legs being above the longitudinal center of the crossing length of each whereby when the legs are folded against the board each connecting means will lie between the other connecting means and the base of the leg which said. last mentioned means connects, and each of said legs below its upper end lying on a plane with its swinging axis and so configured as to extend laterally around one side of and each around opposite sides of the connecting means of the other leg for folding the legs against the board and into the common plane of said axes.

8. In an ironing table, an elongated ironing board, collapsible supporting leg structure for the board comprising a pair of longitudinally crossed and pivotally connected leg members connected to and sup'porting'opposite ends of the board at their upper ends and extending downwardly from one lateral edge of the board only so as to provide knee room clearance under the boardfor an operator sitting up to the other lateral edge of the board, a floor engaging base member rigid with the bottom end of one of the leg members and extending transversely with respect to the board so as to provide lateral support for the table on the floor, said one leg member having a lower portion angling diagonally under the board in the direction of the Width of the board to connect with said base member below the said other lateral edge of the board.

9. In a collapsible ironing table, a flat ironing board, a pair of pivotally connected crossed leg members for supporting the board on a horizontalplane, one of the leg members being fixedly pivoted to the board and the other leg member being niovably pivoted to the board for height adjusting and collapsing operation, a guide element secured to the board longitudinally thereunder, sliding means on the upper end of said other leg and slidable along said guide element, a notched lever pivoted to the board on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the board adjacent the guide element and for engaging the sliding means to hold it in selected positions along the guide element, spring means tending to move the lever in one direction, and means for manually moving the lever against the spring tension.

10. In a collapsible ironing table, an ironing board, a pair of pivotally connected crossed leg members for supporting the board in erect position, one of the leg members being fixedly pivoted to the board and the other leg member being movably pivoted to the board for height adjusting and collapsing operation, a guide element secured to the board longitudinally thereunder, a bearing bracket journaling the upper end of said other leg and slidable along said guide element, a notched lever pivoted to the board adjacent the guide element and for engaging the bearing bracket to hold it in selected positions, spring means tending to move the lever in one direction, and means for manually moving the lever against the spring tension, said lever having means at opposite sides of its pivot for releasably engaging the bearing bracket.

11, In a collapsible ironing table, an ironing board, a pair of pivotally connected crossed leg members for supporting the board in erect position, one of the leg members being pivoted to the board and theother leg member being moveably' pivoted to the board for height adjusting and collapsing operation, a guide element secured to the board longitudinally thereunder, a slide means on the upper end of said other leg and slidable along said guide element, a lever pivoted to the board adjacent the guide element and having teeth for locking engagement with the slide means in various selected positionsand including a tooth for effecting such engagement with the slide means when said other leg is collapsed, spring means tending to move the lever into engagement with the slide means, and means for manually moving the lever against the spring tension.

12. In an ironing table, an ironing board, and a collapsible structure for the board comprising front and rear leg members pivotally connected in crossed relation to each other, said front leg fixedly pivoted at its upper end to the board and near the rear end thereof, a guide element secured to the board longitudinally thereunder at a point forward of said front leg pivot, aslide means on the upper end of said rear leg member and slidable along said guide element between a f-orwardmost position for collapse of said structure against the underside of the table and various rearward positions for height adjustment of the structure, a latch member pivoted to the board adjacent the guide element and having a forward tooth for engaging the slide means to lock said means in said forwardmost position and a plurality of longitudinally spaced rearward teeth for locking said means at any selected height adjustment position, spring means yieldably urging said latch member in a slide engaging direction, and means for manually moving the latch member against the spring tension for sliding movement of the slide means.

13. In an ironing table, an ironing board, and a collapsible structure for the board comprising front and rear leg members pivotally connected in crossed relation to each other, said front leg fixedly pivoted at its upper end to the board and near the rear end thereof, a guide element secured to the board longitudinally thereunder at a point forward of said front leg pivot, a slide means on the upper end of said rear leg member and slidable along said guide element between a forwardmost position for collapse of said structure against the underside of the table and various rearward positions for height adjustment of the structure, a latch member pivoted to the board adjacent the guide element and having a forward tooth for engaging the slide means to lock said means in said forwardmost position and a plurality of longitudinally spaced rearward teeth for locking said means at any selected height adjustment position, spring means yieldably urging said latch member in a slide engaging 1 2 direction, and said forward tooth having an inclined rear edge whereby the latch member Will be moved against the spring tension by collapsing movement of the slide means.

14. In a collapsible ironing table, a flat elongated ironing board, leg structure for supporting the board on a horizontal plane over a floor or other supporting surface, guide means on the underside of the board at the longitudinal central portion thereof, slide means on the leg structure and. movable longitudinally on said guide means for height adjusting and collapsing of the leg structure, a latch member mounted on the board adjacent the guide means for transverse movement into and out of locking engagement with V the slide means to lock the slide means in various positions on the guide means, spring means on the latch member urging said member into looking engagement with the slide means, and a handle extending from said member transversely relative to the board to a point adjacent the longitudinal center of one lateral edge of the board for manually moving the latch member against tension of the spring means and out of locking engagement with the slide means.

15. In an ironing table, an ironing board, and a collapsible structure for the board comprising a pair of leg members pivotally connected in crossed relation to each other, both of said members having their upper ends pivoted to the underside of the board, at least one of said legs having its pivoted upper end slidable along the board toward and away from the upper end of the other leg for height adjustment and collapsing operation of the structure, a catch means carried. by said slidable leg upper end, a latch means mounted on the underside of the board for transverse movement into and out of locking engagement with said catch means and having a plurality of looking teeth spaced longitudinally relative to the board for locking said catch means with the legs in any selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions, spring means urging the latch means into locking position, and a handle on the latch means for moving the member transversely out of engagement with said catch means against tension of the spring means.

16. In an ironing table having an elongated board, a collapsible leg structure for the board including a leg pivoted at one end to the board and swingable from an erect normal board supporting position into a collapsed position adjacent the board, the normally lower end of the leg being formed. with an integral horizontal member extending transversely With respect to the length of the board, a base member for the leg disposed adjacent to and parallel with the horizontal member of the leg and having a length substantially greater than the Width of the board, one of said members being formed With a recess to interlockingly receive the other of such members, and means for releasably securing such members together in interlocked positions.

KEMUEL B. OLANDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,019 Tucker Sept. 5, 1382 1,161,407 Northrup -1 Nov. 23, 1915 1,359,527 Reed Nov. 23, 1920 1,801,151 Gomber Apr. 14, 1931 1,976,031 Lowenberg Oct. 9, 1934 2,517,696 Miller Aug. 8, 1950 2,546,097 Hilcl Mar. 20, 1951 

